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What are the most popular last names in California?

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 12:26:00 GMT

(NEXSTAR/WOWK) - Is there a certain last name that you encounter more often than others? Maybe you work with a few unrelated Garcias, or your graduating class had a handful of Moores in it. It's not just you - a new study found most Americans have one of six surnames and, in California specifically, one of three. Ancestry recently reviewed phone book listings from across the country to determine the three most popular last names in each state. Smith was far and away the most common nationwide, failing to land in the top three in just five states: California, Hawaii, Minnesota, New Mexico, and North Dakota. When will it stop raining in California? What meteorologists are saying California's most popular surname was Garcia, edging out Hernandez and Lopez. Garcia was most common across Southwestern states, including Arizona, New Mexico, and Nevada. It was the top last name in only one other state: Texas. According to Ancestry, the traditionally Hispanic surname was among the eighth m...

East Bay assemblywoman announces new bill combatting fentanyl overdoses

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 12:26:00 GMT

San Francisco (KRON) -- Fentanyl continues to take lives nationwide. Here in California, nearly six-thousand people died from fentanyl-related overdose deaths in 2021.More than 800 of those were from people aged 24 and under. Assemblywoman Liz Ortega, representing Hayward, joins KRON4’s Stephanie Lin to discuss how lawmakers are taking action.

Traffic safety top of mind at Prince George’s Co. high school after student killed in accident

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 12:26:00 GMT

Henry Wise High School’s gymnasium was full of neighbors from Upper Marlboro, Maryland, frustrated about the number of traffic incidents nearby. Just last week, one of the school’s own died in a traffic accident.The emergency meeting was held by Prince George’s Council Vice Chair Wala Blegay after 18-year-old Cayliy Haygood was killed in an accident on March 7. There have been two other accidents in the same area within the last week.More Prince George’s County NewsMore Local News“We were gonna meet about it the week before this young girl died,” Blegay said. “That’s what’s so tragic about the entire thing is that we were talking about the very thing and then she loses her life.”Thomas Jackson, who has lived in the area for 22 years, suggested traffic signals be installed at Ritchie Marlboro Road and Brooke Lane to reduce speeding near where the fatal accident happened.“My wife and I’ve been talking about (how) the developm...

What's the most popular last name in Colorado?

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 12:26:00 GMT

CHARLESTON, WV (WOWK) – Think you have a popular last name? A new study found most Americans have one of six surnames, almost regardless of where they live. In the study, Ancestry.com reviewed phone book listings from across the country to determine the three most popular last names in each state. The company found Smith is far and away the most common.In fact, Smith only failed to land among the top three surnames in just five states: California, Hawaii, Minnesota, New Mexico and North Dakota. Shop at Ikea? You may be entitled to part of a $24M class action settlement Smith was an occupational name, meaning a worker who specialized in metal like a blacksmith or farrier, per its English and Scottish roots, Ancestry explains. As of 2004, the average lifespan of people with the last name Smith was 73 years old, compared to the national average of 74.Other popular surnames included Johnson, Miller, Jones, Williams and Anderson. Regionally, Ancestry found a handful of differences. For...

Alpaca costume contest happening in Denver Saturday

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 12:26:00 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- If you've ever wanted to see alpacas dressed in costumes, you may be in luck. An alpaca costume contest is taking place in Denver on Saturday at 1 p.m.The contest will take place at the National Western Complex and is open to the public free of charge.Four age groups -- under 9, 9 to 11 years old, 12 to 14 years old and 15 to 19 years old -- will take part in the competition with their costumed alpacas. Evergreen woman pushes for more regulations after meth lab found in cabin The costumes are judged on how comfortable the alpaca is and how imaginative the costume is.The human contestant will also write a story talking about the costume.This competition is part of the 2023 Mauri Alpaca Owners Association National Alpaca Show that is taking place in Denver until March 19.

Paris police ban protest rallies in city’s hotspots

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 12:26:00 GMT

The Paris police on Saturday banned rallies at two of the hotspots of protests against French President Emmanuel Macron’s pension reforms, as thousands of people continued to demonstrate across the country against the measures.For the last two evenings, people have gathered in the streets to protest the government resorting to the Article 49.3 of the French Constitution to force through the controversial pension reform bill that will raise the age of retirement from 62 to 64. More than 300 people have been arrested across the country, 258 of them in the Place de la Concorde in Paris, opposite to the French parliament.“Due to serious risks of disturbances to public order and security … any gathering on … Place de la Concorde and its surroundings as well as in the area of the Avenue des Champs-Elysées is prohibited,” the police said, according to an AFP report. “People who try to gather there will be systematically evicted by the police” and may be ...

Louisiana says family can’t keep their beloved pet nutria ‘Neuty’

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 12:26:00 GMT

A Louisiana couple has run afoul of state law by keeping a 22-pound nutria — a beady-eyed, orange-toothed, rat-tailed rodent commonly considered a wetlands-damaging pest — as a pet that frolics with their dog, snuggles in their arms and swims in the family pool.Denny and Myra Lacoste tell New Orleans news outlets they are devastated at the potential loss of “Neuty,” a pet they say they raised from infancy when its siblings were killed in traffic. The move by state Wildlife and Fisheries officials, who say it’s illegal to keep an orphaned or injured wild animal as a pet, has sparked a petition drive by those who want him to stay with the humans who raised him.The state Wildlife Department says the plan is to house Neuty at the Baton Rouge Zoo. But it’s unclear when that will happen. A statement from the department Friday said officials had gone to remove the pet from the Lacoste’s New Orleans-area residence Thursday.“The nutria was not at the residence when agents arrived,” the depar...

Looking Glass: You want my money, come and take it, punk! KA-BLAM! KA-POW!

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 12:26:00 GMT

Two thugs tried to rob an old guy while he was walking back to his car from picking up an order of Chinese food from a restaurant in North Philadelphia. When they pulled out their guns, he pulled his, and exchanged fire with them, emptying his weapon and forcing them to flee. The 71-year-old man said that he always keeps his hand on his pistol at night “just in case.”OK, SIR, BUT YOU HAVE TO WEAR CLOTHES ON THIS EARTH: A 44-year-old man, who was arrested for walking naked down Worth Avenue in Palm Beach, Fla., told police he didn’t know where he left his clothes and refused to give his name or date of birth. He also said that he lives on “a different earth,” but later admitted that he actually resides in West Palm Beach.DAD? IS THAT YOU?: A masked man tried to rob a teenager at knifepoint at an ATM in Glasgow, Scotland, until he realized that the victim was his own son. The kid recognized him from his voice and eyes. The father apologized, saying he was desperate, and the teen...

Gates reopened at Naval Base Coronado following lockdown

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 12:26:00 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Naval Base Coronado went into lockdown Friday night after a driver attempted to plow through the facility’s main gate, a military spokesperson confirmed to FOX 5.Around 10:30 p.m., an individual trying to access the main gate on North Island became aggressive and tried to drive through the entry way, said Naval Base Coronado Public Affairs Officer Kevin Dixon. Bodycam video shows shooting involving deputy in East County Officials say shots were fired during the incident, but the naval base did not specify who fired a weapon during the incident. No injuries were reported.The main gate was briefly placed on lockdown. A post on the Facebook page of Naval Base Coronado early Saturday said, “The main gate at Naval Air Station North Island is currently closed due to a security incident. Please stay away from the main gate while security conducts its investigation.”Military officials told FOX 5 the main gate has since reopened. Dixon said the suspect is in custody. Officials...

Pedestrian fatally hit by vehicle in North County

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 12:26:00 GMT

VISTA, Calif. -- A pedestrian was fatally struck by a vehicle in North County on the night of St. Patrick's Day, authorities said.According to the San Diego County Sheriff's Department, deputies from the Vista Sheriff's Station, along officials from the Vista Fire Department, responded to a traffic collision near the intersection of Taylor Street and Cresthaven Drive just after 8 p.m. Bodycam video shows shooting involving deputy in East County Authorities say an individual driving a Ford Escape was traveling westbound on Taylor Street when it struck a man who was crossing just east of the intersection. SDSO confirmed the pedestrian was transported to a local hospital, where succumbed to his injuries.The victim's identity has not been released pending notification of family.According to police, the driver of the Ford Escape remained at the scene and is cooperating with investigators.At this time, it's unknown if alcohol or drugs were a factor in the collision.The Vista Sheriff's S...